This book explores the "modern city" that took shape in the U.S. during the closing decades of the 19th century. Written by a Berkeley history professor, the book isn't light reading, but for those interested in the formation of the city and its impact on the larger social and cultural character of America, this is the book.
This is a first-rate look at America's World War I experience. Stanford professor David Kennedy focuses more on the impact of the war on America than the European disagreements that triggered the global conflict. The American home front and the experience of American soldiers receive fascinating attention.
Williams provides an interesting look at a small slice of the war in this exploration of African-American soldiers in World War I. Their experience abroad and return home is placed within the larger context of African-American attempts to redefine their place in American society during these years.